vestibular

[ves-TIB-yuh-ler]
adjective/nounN/A (adjective); masculine (noun)pl: N/A (adjective); vestibulares (noun)
vestibular
1. Relating to the vestibule, especially the inner ear structure responsible for balance and spatial orientation
The vestibular system helps maintain your balance while walking.
O sistema vestibular ajuda a manter o equilíbrio enquanto você caminha.
2. In Brazil, referring to the entrance examination for university admission
She studied hard for the vestibular exam to get into medical school.
Ela estudou muito para o exame vestibular para entrar na faculdade de medicina.
3. Relating to a vestibule or entrance hall
The vestibular area of the building was beautifully decorated.
A área vestibular do edifício foi lindamente decorada.
In Brazil, 'vestibular' is deeply embedded in educational culture, referring to the competitive entrance examinations required to enter universities. These exams are highly significant in Brazilian society and represent a major milestone for high school students. The term has become synonymous with university admission itself in Brazilian Portuguese, making it distinct from other Portuguese-speaking countries where the anatomical meaning predominates.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
equilibrium-relatedentrance examination (Brazilian context)entryway

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
vestibular
Primarily used to refer to university entrance exams; also anatomical term
São Paulo
vestibular
Common reference to competitive entrance exams for universities
Rio de Janeiro
vestibular
Standard usage for university entrance examinations
Portugal
vestibular
Used primarily in medical/anatomical contexts; not used for entrance exams

Related Words

vestibulevertigobalanceinner earENEMentrance examequilibrium

Related Idioms & Phrases

fazer o vestibular (to take the entrance exam)
passar no vestibular (to pass the entrance exam)
estudar para o vestibular (to study for the entrance exam)
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →